USH1G with Unique Retinal Findings Caused by a Novel Truncating Mutation Identified by Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis
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Molecular Vision 2012; 18:1885-1894 <http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v18/a196> © 2012 Molecular Vision Received 20 August 2011 | Accepted 9 July 2012 | Published 12 July 2012 USH1G with unique retinal findings caused by a novel truncating mutation identified by genome-wide linkage analysis Faiqa Imtiaz,1 Khalid Taibah,2 Ghada Bin-Khamis,3 Shelley Kennedy,4 Amal Hemidan,5 Faisal Al-Qahtani,5 Khalid Tabbara,5 Bashayer Al Mubarak,1 Khushnooda Ramzan,1 Brian F. Meyer,1 Mohammed Al-Owain6,7 1Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2ENT Medical Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Otolaryngology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Ontario Newborn Screening Program, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 5Department of Ophthalmology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Medical Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Purpose: Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive disorder divided into three distinct clinical subtypes based on the severity of the hearing loss, manifestation of vestibular dysfunction, and the age of onset of retinitis pigmentosa and visual symptoms. To date, mutations in seven different genes have been reported to cause USH type 1 (USH1), the most severe form. Patients diagnosed with USH1 are known to be ideal candidates to benefit from cochlear implantation. Methods: Genome-wide linkage analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 10K arrays were performed in three cochlear implanted Saudi siblings born from a consanguineous marriage, clinically diagnosed with USH1 by comprehensive clinical, audiological, and ophthalmological examinations. From the linkage results, the USH1G gene was screened for mutations by direct sequencing of the coding exons. Results: We report the identification of a novel p.S243X truncating mutation in USH1G that segregated with the disease phenotype and was not present in 300 ethnically matched normal controls. We also report on the novel retinal findings and the outcome of cochlear implantation in the affected individuals. Conclusions: In addition to reporting a novel truncating mutation, this report expands the retinal phenotype in USH1G and presents the first report of successful cochlear implants in this disease. Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive was cloned, which is the human ortholog of the Sans gene disorder that is clinically and genetically heterogeneous defective in Jackson shaker mutant mice [3,4]. USH1G associated with sensorineural hearing impairment and contains three exons, spans 7.2 kb, and encodes a progressive visual loss attributable to retinitis pigmentosa scaffolding protein (SANS) with 460 amino acids. The (RP). USH is the most common cause of hereditary deaf- SANS protein contains three ankyrin domains at the N- blindness, reported in 1 in 6,000 children [1]. terminal end (amino acids 31–129) and a PDZ-binding Usher type 1 (USH1) is the most severe of three known motif at the C-terminal end. In-between lies a central region clinical subtypes as patients affected have severe to (amino acids 130–385) and a sterile alpha motif (SAM) profound congenital hearing loss combined with prepubertal domain (amino acids 384–446) [3]. Since then, only a small onset of visual symptoms. In addition, individuals with number of patients with USH1G mutations have been USH1 often walk later than usual due to vestibular reported in the literature with prelingual hearing loss, dysfunction, and older children with USH1 may appear vestibular dysfunction, and variable RP [3,5-7]. clumsy and have difficulty with gross motor activities that In this report, we describe three siblings from a require a level of balance. To date, seven loci have been consanguineous family of Saudi Arabian origin with mapped that cause USH1, USH1B–USH1H (Hereditary USH1G and distinct retinopathy, who also had a good Hearing Loss Homepage). outcome after cochlear implantation. The locus for USH1G was mapped to 17q24–25 [2], METHODS and in 2003 the gene USH1G (previously named scaffold protein containing ankyrin repeats and sam domain [SANS]) Patient information and clinical evaluation: All of the individuals who participated in this study provided an Correspondence to: Faiqa Imtiaz, Department of Genetics, King approved informed consent form, which adhered to Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, PO Box 3354, institutional (King Faisal Specialist Hospital; RAC# Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; Phone: +966-1464-7272; FAX: 2040039) guidelines and to the tenets of the Declaration of +966-1205-5171; email: [email protected] Helsinki. Three siblings affected with hearing loss and RP 1885 Molecular Vision 2012; 18:1885-1894 <http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v18/a196> © 2012 Molecular Vision Figure 1. The pedigree of the Usher family with three affected siblings and an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. from a consanguineous family (Figure 1) of Saudi Arabian single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called using origin were recruited for this study. Detailed clinical and Affymetrix GCOS 1.4 software, which generated an overall developmental histories were obtained for all the members average SNP call rate of 97%. The Allegro module of the of this family. Easy Linkage software package was used to calculate Hearing was assessed both pre- and post-cochlear multipoint logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores, with the implantation for all three patients by pure tone visual parameters that assume a disease model with an autosomal- reinforcement audiometry; air conduction and bone recessive mode of inheritance with 100% penetrance and a conduction thresholds were measured at frequencies 250, disease allele frequency of 0.0001. 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz in a sound booth Mutation screening in USH1G: Genomic DNA of all with a Grason-Stadler Diagnostic Clinical Audiometer individuals was amplified by PCR using intronic primers (Grason-Stadler, Eden Prairie, MN). In addition, that were designed to flank each of the three coding exons diagnostic brainstem evoked response audiometry was of USH1G (Table 1). PCR was performed in a final volume performed using click stimulation. Dilated funduscopy and of 20 µl containing approximately 20 ng of genomic DNA, electroretinography (ERG) and visual field were performed 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3), 1.5 mM MgCl2, for ophthalmological examinations. Vestibular function was 200 µM deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), 1 unit evaluated by testing tandem gait ability and by using the of Qiagen (Valencia, CA) HotStar Taq polymerase, and Romberg test. 10 µM of each primer. Thermocycling (Applied Biosystems Sample collection and DNA extraction: Whole venous Inc., Foster City, CA) consisted of an initial denaturation at blood samples (10 ml) were collected and immediately 95 °C for 15 min followed by 35 cycles of PCR. Each cycle processed for genomic DNA extraction from peripheral of PCR consisted of denaturation at 94 °C for 60 s, blood leucocytes, using the standard protocols. These annealing at 62 °C for 60 s and extension at 72 °C for 60 s. were obtained from the three patients described above, A final extension step of 10 min at 72 °C was added. their parents, and two unaffected siblings. Genomic Automated sequencing: Purified PCR products covering the extraction of DNA was performed using the standard entire coding region of USH1G as identified on the UCSC salting-out method [8]. and Ensembl websites, were directly sequenced with the Linkage analysis: SNP-based genotyping was performed dideoxy chain-termination method using an ABI Prism Big using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 10K Dye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit following the arrays (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). The genotypes of manufacturer’s instructions, and processed on a MegaBACE 1886 Molecular Vision 2012; 18:1885-1894 <http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v18/a196> © 2012 Molecular Vision TABLE 1. PCR PRIMERS FOR THE THREE CODING EXONS OF THE USH1G GENE. Primers Forward Reverse Exon 1 CATGCCTCAGCCCTAATACC AGCTCAGAGGAGTGGTGGAC Exon 2a TGCTGTGACAGTGGGGAAG CGTGGCCTGAGAGTACGG Exon 2b ACACCCTCAGCTTCTCCAG AGGCTGTCATCGTCCAGG Exon 2c ACGACTCCCTGTTTACCCG CCTGAATAGGCAGATCTGTACC Exon 3 ATGGGGAGGCTAAGTTGTCC CAACTGTGAGGACCTCGAGAC 1000 DNA Analysis System (Molecular Dynamics; developmental assessment at 3 1/2 years showed normal Sunnyvale, CA). Sequence analysis was performed using cognition with moderate speech delay. The most severely the SeqMan 6.1 module of the Lasergene (DNA Star Inc.; affected of three affected siblings, he was a late walker and Madison, WI) software package, and then compared to the has a clumsy ataxic gait with frequent falls, especially in reference sequence (GenBank NG_007882). Numbering unfamiliar areas. As a result, his family was afraid that he commenced with the A of the ATG initiation codon as +1. might cause injury to himself. He had a positive Romberg test, and cannot perform tandem gait. Patient 2 is currently RESULTS in the fourth grade in a normal school and is doing well. Clinical description: At the time of study, the father of the Patient 3—The proband’s sister was reported to have proband was 41 years old, and the mother was 36 years old. the mildest phenotype and was 6 years of age at the time of Both were reported to be in good health. The parents were enrollment. She was born vaginally after an uncomplicated first cousins, related through their fathers who were half- pregnancy. Her hearing loss was detected 2 weeks after brothers. They had six children in total, three of whom had birth by brainstem auditory evoked potential. She had a hearing loss. There was no family history of recognizable cochlear implant at 2 years of age. She sat at 9 months and genetic conditions, birth defects, or mental retardation. A walked at 18 months of age. At 2 1/2 years, her comprehensive review of the extended family pedigree did developmental assessment noted she was clumsy and prone not reveal any other individuals with hearing loss.